<p>I was just wondering, out of curiosity mostly, whether Barnard alumnae speak of themselves as “Columbia graduates” or as “holding a degree from Columbia” (i.e. on a resume or in conversation). I hear the occasional Barnard student say that she “goes to Columbia;” is this normal, or is it coming mostly from the girl who either a) wants to explain her alma mater to laymen or b) secretly wanted to go to Columbia? (Of course, I’d -hope- “b” isn’t the case for anyone) What do alumnae usually put on their resumes?</p>
<p>I ask because I’m a prospective student who hopes to visit both Barnard and Columbia soon, and I still don’t -completely- understand their formal relationship. In NO way do I intend to start debates about the Barnard/Columbia relationship. I’d just like to hear from Barnard alumnae and/or their parents about their experiences.</p>
<p>I understand your confusion, but understand that responses to your question will inevitably be extremely muddled on this board due to deep set insecurities coming from both sides–most Barnard parents etc. will vehemently defend Barnard students as receiving degrees from Columbia, most Columbia students will take the opposite position. I suggest that you read the relevant statements from the universities on your own. </p>
<p>However, I will add that I personally believe it a disservice to Barnard for their students to refer to themselves as having attended “Columbia” without acknowledging Barnard. Whether you believe Barnard incorporated in, an affiliate of, associated with Columbia etc., Barnard students attended Barnard as much as Jewish Theological Seminary students attended the JTS. So recognize this Barnard of Columbia or Barnard or w/e you want.</p>
<p>My daughter received her degree from Barnard college…the women’s college affiliated with Columbia University, and that is what she tells people. Many here in the Atlanta area have never heard of Barnard, so the added explanation about the Columbia affiliation is information that brings things into focus a bit more. </p>
<p>I really do not know of any Barnard student who, at least once she is actually a part of Barnard, wants to “go to Columbia”. They may have started out that way, but once there, quickly realize the many, many advantages of being a Barnard student at Columbia University as opposed to being a Columbia College or SEAS student at Columbia University.</p>
<p>and I’d suggest you visit both schools … they are across the street from each other and both have access to tons of the resources of the other school … but they are VERY different schools with very different feels … and my bet is one will feel much more comfortable to you.</p>
<p>In the case of my daughter at least, all of the “go to”, “attended”, “graduated from” and “alumna of” are strictly Barnard without reference to Columbia. After graduation, it’s appropriate to list the degree as “B.A., Columbia University, Barnard College” on resumes, etc. Dropping the reference to Barnard would be misleading, I think, and dropping the reference to the University would be inaccurate. Nobody gets confused this way.</p>
<p>Thanks for all of your replies! It’s really helpful for me to hear from people whose daughters attend or have attended Barnard.</p>
<p>What makes me excited about (hopefully) visiting soon is knowing that the people who attend either school are proud of their school’s identity within the larger Columbia University community. I’m looking forward to deciding which school is best for me.</p>
<p>Yep, journeeverte, each school has very distinct characteristics and advantages. The Core that is so central to a Columbia College education has to be a defining factor to consider, imo. Barnard also has basic liberal arts requirements as well, of course, but they are much more loosely constructed around the “nine ways of knowing”, and tend to allow for more flexibility in scheduling. Just read carefully about this so you understand this basic difference in the two undergrad schools at Columbia U.</p>
<p>I would say that another difference is the very strong sense of female empowerment at Barnard. I don’t think my D would trade that for any college or university in the country.</p>
<p>By the way churchmusicmom: The lack of jobs propelled my D to apply to and be accepted at a selective Masters program at King’s College in London on the theoretic basis of international law. It will make a nice addendum to law school. The is 90% set on going in September. We’re quite happy. (She would have preferred a job, but that wasn’t happening.)</p>
<p>Very cool, mythmom!!! What an opportunity for your d! Mine is very excited about starting her doctorate in a few weeks. </p>
<p>By the way, we calculate that by virtue of the fact that she graduated from Barnard, she was in fact able to get accepted into this fully funded and excellent program. So we figure all the money it cost for her to attend Barnard also, in essence, is paying for her grad program. Not that we had to pay full fare, or anything, but it was a financial strain, to be sure!</p>
<p>Just a comment from a Barnard alumna from the 70’s - it would never occur to me to say I graduated from Columbia- I’m proud to say Barnard and just give a little explanation if people never heard of it. Barnard offers the opportunity to take any Columbia course and still feel like you are attending a small, very personal liberal arts college. By the way, my resume only lists Barnard as well.</p>
<p>My daughter’s resume says, “Barnard College, Columbia University” and under activities and work experience she accurately lists items from both. </p>
<p>I’d note that all coursework for her minor was undertaken at Columbia. (or during study abroad, as she minored in foreign language).</p>
<p>It’s very complicated and muddled. I have been working jobs since I started at Barnard and have interviewed quite a few times. My standard answer sounds like “I go to Barnard College, it’s an all-women’s liberal arts college affiliated with Columbia University.” </p>
<p>I can share the response I’ve gotten:
A) “All-women’s? Really?” or similar responses, which are all basically more interested in it being an all-women’s colleges.
B) Not really response as much as first thing my interviewer said when she saw my resume: “A Barnard Grad! I’m class of '9x (forgot exact year)”
C) Really recently, I was interviewed by a Columbia grad. He instantly went to talking about whether professor so-and-so was still teaching this class and so forth.
D) The most common: they really don’t care. They do, however, care about my major and my skills.</p>
<p>There were a lot more like the interviewer from Smith (who was excited that I was from a women’s college) and my favorite: the interviewer who’d never heard of Barnard or Columbia and thought that I went to school in the country of Colombia. He was concerned about it being “dangerous”. Took me a while to figure out that he’d misunderstood but it was pretty hilarious. I didn’t get that job though. XD</p>
<p>what does the actual wall diploma say? I have always been curious. Does is have a Columbia Seal and a reference to the Trustees of Columbia University?</p>
It’s really helpful for me to hear from people whose daughters attend or have attended Barnard.</p>